1. Making a Climagraph That Also Shows Water Balance

2. Start
with a
Frame.

3. Add labels
for the
12 months.

4. Add some guidelines
for
temperature.

5. And then
label the
guidelines.

6. Draw a
curved line
to show
temperature

7. You could
draw some
“rain gauges”
to show
precipitation.

8. Add a
scale
to show
amounts.

9. Then fill each bar
to the right depth
for that month.

10. Put them together
and you have
your climagraph.
There is,
however,
a way
to make
it better.

11. Start with just
three guidelines
to indicate only
the most important
temperatures.

12. Add the temperature curve – You can easily see that this place has
two months that are
below freezing
and two above
room temperature.

13. Add a
carefully matched
precipitation scale.

14. Then draw the
precipitation bars
to fit that scale.

15. to the temperature line, there is a moisture deficit.
If the bar for a month
does not reach up
to the temperature line,
there is a moisture deficit.
In many places
(like this one),
plants can survive
a short water deficit
by taking water
out of the soil.

16. than the temperature line, there is a moisture surplus.
If the bar for a month
extends up higher
than the temperature line,
there is a moisture surplus.
This is the water
that refills the soil
and flows away
to make rivers
and lakes.

17. This graph shows the climate of Detroit.
This city has a significant water surplus
in winter and spring. Then, in summer,
it has a short season of water deficit, when plants have to take water out of soil storage.

18. A city like Phoenix, Arizona, has a significant water shortage
in every month of the year
That’s why it is a desert!